Vettori rubbishes cricket match-fixing allegations

Black Caps vice-captain Daniel Vettori has rubbished match-fixing allegations swirling in the wake of their tri-series one-day cricket victory in Zimbabwe.

The Times of India website today reported the International Cricket Council (ICC) had deployed two of its officials to India to investigate the allegations.

Vettori was adamant there was nothing untoward about last week's final in Harare, when New Zealand overhauled India's imposing total of 276 to win by six wickets.

"That's the first I've heard of it, it's news to me and I'd imagine it's news to the team as well," Vettori told NZPA today.

"It seems to always follow us around when we win something.

"But we're pretty comfortable with how the game went, how we played it and how they played it -- 280's not a bad score in a final."

Asked if he or any teammates had been approached during the Zimbabwe tour or if he was aware of anything untoward, Vettori said: "Nothing at all, there's nothing gone on to my knowledge."

The Times of India reported Martin Hawkins and Alan Peacock, part of the ICC's anti-corruption unit, were in New Delhi.

"They have information about interaction between bookies and a few cricketers who played in the tri-series in Zimbabwe. This, however, has to be verified," a source quoted by the website said.

The source added that the names of cricketers from all three countries featured in the discussions.

Hawkins declined to discuss the purpose of his visit, the website reported.

The Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) had denied initiating an inquiry into the allegations and or having knowledge that the ICC officials were India.

"We have not received any complaint from anywhere (regarding the allegations)," a BCCI spokesman was quoted as saying.

Left-arm spinner Vettori played a key role in the final, taking two for 35 in an accurate 10-over spell which applied the brakes to India's innings.

Captain Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle then took to Indian pacemen Irfan Pathan and Ashish Nehra with an opening stand of 121 off 18 overs before Astle completed the victory with an innings of 115 not out.

There were no shock results in the tri-series, with Zimbabwe losing all four of their matches and New Zealand and India beating each other once before the final.

- NZPA